Method of manufacturing wheel centers



Jam. 7, 1930. E. R. JACOB] ET AL 1,742,395

METHOD OF MANUFACTURING WHEEL CENTERS Filed June 1, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 fmllHHHllh V INVENTORS I-E'mzZ 7E? Ja'coba' w BY am 76. LeJZan.

ATT RNEY.

Jan. 7, 1930. E. R. JACOB] ET AL 1,742,395

METHOD OF MANUFACTURING WHEEL CENTERS Filed June 1. 1926 i 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 7, 193%. E. R. JACOBE E AL METHOD OF MANUFACTURING WHEEL CENTERS Filed June 1926. 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS $717512 I? 72 0027:

By Tram? vfllafizzne. 5 if Patented Jan. 7, 1930 EMIL R. JACOBI AND FRANK H.

PATENT OFFICE,

MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO KELSEY-HAYES WHEEL CORPORATION, OF DETROIT,

MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION-0F NEW YORK METHOD on MANUFACTURING WHEEL CENTERS Application filed June 1,

This invention relates to a method of manufacturing wheel centers, or spiders. WVe appreciate that it is not facture a wheel center or spider, from a properly slotted rectangular blank which is rolled into a cylinder. However, as far as we are aware, such a method has only been used in connection with the long spoked wheels, and the hub has been in the form of a cylinder. The blank has been rolled in the prior methods to substantially the diameter of the hub, and the portions between the slots, turned up to form spokes.

In our method, the blank is rolled to substantially greater diameter than the hub, and a flange turned in to form the spider center in place of the usual hub. wheel very much stronger than the ordinary full-length spoke wheel and which rivals the disc wheel in strength and durability, yet has a certain amount of flexibility and good ventilation for dissipating the heat developed in the brakes.

However, no claim is made for wheel itself, as this is made the subject of the copending application, N 0. 113,065.

Figures 1 and 1* show the two modifications of a rectangular blank that may be employed in the process.

Figures 2 shows one of these blanks rolled up into a cylinder.

Figure 3 shows the blank after the flange has been turned in. a

Figure 4 shows the same after the same has been expanded.

Figures 6-9 inclusive are similar views showing the steps of a modification of the first described process. Referring to figures 1 and 1*, it will be seen that a flat blank of rectangular section is taken. This may or may not be slotted or notched, as the first step. In the form shown in Figure 1, these notches are placed in the rectangular blank. In the form shown in Figure 1* these notches are shown in dotted lines indicating that they may be placed in the stock at a subsequent operation; for instance, either with the blank as shown in igure 2, or as shown in Figure .3.

It will be noted that the sheet stock, of

wholly new to manuto This makes a 1926. Serial No. 113,064.

which this wheel center is made, is preferably of tapering cross-section from one side the other, as is clearly shown in Figure 2. This is not essential as far as the method is concerned, but it makes a better wheel.

Either one of the blanks in Figures 1 and 1 is taken androlled into a cylinder and then butt-welded, as shown in Figure 2. The next operation requires the heating ofthe work for the turning over of the flange Z), which becomes the center web of the completed wheel. l/Ve find that this flange may be turned over on a rolling machine or, preferably, the hot cylinder may be placed on the end of a suitable mandrel on a mill to hot spin the flange down by a pair of rollers. We believe that down best by ;a hot a suitable machine.

The work is then put in a punchpress with suitable dies, and expanded out as shown in Figure 4, to make the spoke members slightly oblique to the plane of the web, the terminals of the spoke members remaining parallel ,to the axis of the cylinder. These serve for attachment to the rim as rim supports.

Figures 6, 7, 8, and 9 exhibit a modification of this method. .The initial blank, here, has an angular section. This forms flange b; the notching, as in a, may be done in the original blank or in the same when formed ina cylinder, in the same way as with the previously described method. Howevenwhen the blank is coiledinto the cylinder, as shown in Figure 8, it will be necessary to do this while hot and to roll it into this shape. When it is cool, the same may be butt-welded and the final operation taken on a punchpress the same as in the previously described method.

What we claim is:

1. The method of making a spoked metal this flange can be turned.

LE JEUNE, OF JACKSON, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNORS, BY-

wheel center, which comprises utilizing a rec- 1 edge of the blank to form a flange, and bending outwardl the separated projections with their termina s remaming parallel to the axis of the cylinder on a circumferential line, which is defined substantially by the bases of V 5 the projecting portions, until the projections are inclined to the flange whereby .the flange forms a solid, central web and the projecting portions form inclined spokes.

2. The method of making a spoked metal Wheel center, which comprises utilizing a rectangular blank having a width substantially equal to the radius of the wheel center to be formed, coiling the blank-into cylinder form,

notching in one edge of the blank at spaced points at one stage of the process to form separated projections, turning in the other edge of the blank to form a flange substantially perpendicular to the axis of the cylinder, and

bending outwardly the separated projections with their terminal'sremaining parallel to the axis of the cylinder on a circumferential line defined substantially by the line of connection betweenthe turned in flange and the remaining portion of the cylinder, until. said projections are inclined to the flange whereby the flange forms a solid, central web and the separated projections form inclined spokes.

3. The methbd of making a spoked metal wheel center of tapered cross section, which 3 comprises utilizing a rectangular blank having a width substantially equal-"to the radius of the wheel center to be formed, and being tapered in cross section, coiling the blank into acylinder form, notching the thin'edge 35. of the tapered blank at spaced points at one stage of the process to form separated proj ec- ,tions, turningin the thick'edge of the blank to form a flange substantially at right angles to the axis of the cylinder, bending outwardly. 40 the separated projections with their terminals remaining parallel to the .axis of the cylinder on a circumferential line defined substantially by the line of connection between the flange and the remaining portion of the cylinder until these separated projections are inclined to the flange, whereby the flange forms a relae tively thick center web substantially perpendicular to the axis of the wheel center, and the separated projections form inclined spokes gradually diminishing in thickness from the flange to the outer ends of the spokes. In testimony'whereof we have aflixed our signatures.

EMIL R. JACOBI.

5:, FRANK H; LE JEUNE. 

